Telecommunications panel assembly with movable adapters

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications panel assembly ( 10 ) includes a chassis ( 14 ) defining a front ( 16 ), a top ( 20 ), a bottom ( 22 ), and two sides ( 24 ) and a plurality of adapter mounting modules ( 26 ) mounted to the chassis ( 14 ) at the front ( 16 ), each adapter mounting module ( 26 ) including a plurality of fiber optic adapters ( 36 ) mounted in a line. At least one of the adapter mounting modules ( 26 ) is mounted to the chassis ( 14 ) with a pair of supports ( 50 ) that are pivotable with respect to the at least one adapter module ( 26 ) such that the at least one adapter module ( 26 ) is removable from the chassis ( 14 ) and remountable at a position spaced linearly apart from another of the adapter mounting modules ( 26 ), wherein all of the adapter mounting modules ( 26 ) are also pivotally mounted about horizontal rotation axes ( 42 ) extending parallel to the top ( 20 ) and bottom ( 22 ) and transversely to the sides ( 24 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/568,753, filed on Oct. 23, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,254,496; whichis a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2016/059105, filed on Apr. 22,2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/186,001, filed on Jun. 29, 2015 and claims the benefit of U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/151,722, filed on Apr. 23, 2015, the disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Tothe extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the abovedisclosed applications.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to fiber optic termination panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With respect to telecommunications cable termination panels, there is anever increasing need to increase density. The cable termination panelsof the prior art include adapters, which hold mating connectors of afiber optic transmission pathway.

By increasing density, more terminations can be located in a given area,such as on a rack or in a cabinet. However, by increasing the density,connector access becomes more difficult for a technician needing to makea new connection, or make a disconnection, such as to clean a connector,or move to a new adapter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a telecommunications panel assemblyincluding a chassis defining an open front, and a main body including atop, a bottom, and two sides. A plurality of adapter mounting modulesare mounted to the front. Each adapter mounting module includes aplurality of fiber optic adapters mounted in a line. At least one of theadapter mounting modules is pivotally or rotatably mounted with respectto another module at a different row about a horizontal rotation axisextending parallel to the top and bottom, and transversely to the sidesof the chassis for improved connector access. According to oneembodiment, one of the adapter mounting modules may also be liftablewith respect to another module at a different row for improving accessto the back side of the adapter module of the lower row. The chassis mayinclude cable management fingers associated with each of the rows forguiding cables to a larger radius limiter at one of the sides, adjacentto the front of the chassis.

In one embodiment, each of the adapters is mounted at an angle to theadapter mounting modules to direct the cables extending therefrom towardthe radius limiter at one of the sides of the chassis.

Methods of use are also provided.

According to one aspect, the telecommunications panel assembly comprisesa chassis including a front, the chassis further defining a top, abottom, and two sides. A plurality of adapter mounting modules aremounted to the chassis at the front, each adapter mounting moduleincluding a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted in a line. Atleast one of the adapter mounting modules is pivotally mounted about ahorizontal rotation axis extending parallel to the top and bottom, andtransversely to the sides, wherein the at least one pivotable adaptermounting module is rotatable in either an upward or a downwarddirection. A cable guide or radius limiter associated with one of thesides is adjacent to the front of the chassis.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to atelecommunications panel assembly comprising a chassis including afront, the chassis further defining a top, a bottom, and two sides and aplurality of adapter mounting modules mounted to the chassis at thefront, each adapter mounting module including a plurality of fiber opticadapters mounted in a line. At least one of the adapter mounting modulesis mounted to the chassis with a pair of supports that are pivotablewith respect to the at least one adapter module such that the at leastone adapter module is removable from the chassis and remountable at aposition spaced linearly apart from another of the adapter mountingmodules.

According to one embodiment, all of the adapter mounting modules arealso pivotally mounted about a horizontal rotation axis extendingparallel to the top and bottom and transversely to the sides.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a method ofincreasing access to adapters of an adapter mounting module mounted to atelecommunications chassis that defines a front, a top, a bottom, andtwo sides, the method comprising removing an adapter mounting modulefrom the chassis, pivoting a pair of supports that are mounted at rightand left sides of the adapter mounting module, and remounting theadapter mounting module to the chassis via the supports at a positionspaced linearly apart from another adapter mounting module that isinitially adjacent to the remounted adapter module. According to oneembodiment, the remounted adapter mounting module is also initiallypivotable with respect to the other adapter mounting module about ahorizontal rotation axis extending parallel to the top and bottom, andtransversely to the sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front, top, left side perspective view of atelecommunications panel assembly in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front, top, right side perspective view of thetelecommunications panel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the telecommunications panel assembly of FIG. 1 withan upper adapter mounting module of the assembly positioned at a raisedconfiguration;

FIG. 4 shows the assembly of FIG. 3 with one of the lift supports of theadapter mounting module in phantom lines to illustrate the positive stopfeatures of the pivot pin of the adapter mounting module;

FIG. 4A is a close-up view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 4illustrating the pivotable coupling of the lift support to the adaptermounting module;

FIG. 5 illustrates the telecommunications panel assembly of FIG. 3 withthe upper adapter mounting module of the assembly positioned at a raisedconfiguration from a right perspective view;

FIG. 6 illustrates the telecommunications panel assembly of FIG. 3 withthe upper adapter mounting module of the assembly positioned at a raisedconfiguration from a front view;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates the telecommunications panel assembly of FIG. 3 withthe upper adapter mounting module of the assembly positioned at a raisedconfiguration from a top view;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9A-9A of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 9A,illustrating the pivot range of the upper adapter mounting module withrespect to the lift supports of the module;

FIG. 10 illustrates the telecommunications panel assembly of FIG. 1 withthe upper adapter mounting module of the assembly positioned at alowered/neutral configuration from a top view;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 11,illustrating the frictional interaction of the upper and lower adaptermounting modules when either of the modules is pivoted with respect tothe other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, a telecommunications panel assembly 10 isshown, which defines a plurality of cable termination locations 12.Panel assembly 10 includes a chassis 14 with an open front 16. Chassis14 includes a main body 18 defining a top 20 (depicted as an open top),a bottom 22, and sides 24. A plurality of adapter mounting modules 26are mounted to the chassis 14 and are accessible through the open front16. In the depicted embodiment, the adapter mounting modules 26 areprovided in an upper row 28 and a lower row 30. Even though the chassis14 is shown with two rows 28, 30, other numbers of rows are possible.

Each adapter mounting module 26 includes a frame 32 with a moduleopening 34. Module opening 34 includes a plurality of adapters 36mounted therein. Adapters 36 hold mating connectors 38 to allow forfiber optic signal transmission. As shown, the adapters 36 may bemounted at an angle within the module openings 34 for reducing theamount of cable bending as the cables 40 extend toward one of the sides24 of the chassis 14.

As will be discussed in further detail below, at least one of theadapter mounting modules 26 may be pivotable or rotatable about a pivotaxis 42 with respect to an adapter mounting module 26 of a differentrow, wherein the pivot axis 42 extends horizontally and is defined by apivot pin 52 of the module 26. In the example embodiment shown, both ofthe upper and lower modules 26 a, 26 b are pivotable as will bediscussed in further detail below. Please see FIG. 12. The pivotabilityof the modules 26 improves access to the connectors 38 mounted to theadapters 36 of both the upper module 26 a and the lower module 26 b.

In one embodiment, panel assembly 10 includes a radius limiter 46positioned adjacent to one of sides 24 of the chassis 14. The angledmounting of the adapters 36 limit bending as the cables 40 are directedtoward the radius limiter 46. In the embodiment shown, the chassis 14also includes a plurality of cable management fingers 48 extending bothforward and rearward from the adapter mounting modules 26. The rearcable management fingers 48 manage cables 40 coming into the chassis 14for connection to the rear ends of the adapters 36, and front cablemanagement fingers 48 manage cables 40 extending from the front ends ofthe adapters 36 toward the larger radius limiter 46 at the side 24 ofthe chassis 14.

As will be discussed in further detail, in addition to the pivotingfeature associated with the module 26 a of the upper row 28, the uppermodule 26 a may also be liftable with respect to the module 26 b of thelower row 30 for improving access to the back side of the lower adaptermodule 26 b. The liftability feature may be reversed with respect to theupper and lower rows. For example, it is contemplated by the presentdisclosure that the chassis 14 may be designed to have the bottom module26 b lowered with respect to the upper module 26 a in order to improveaccess to the rear connectors 38 of the lower module 26 b or the uppermodule 26 a.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-4A, 9A, 9B, 11, and 12, in order to provideboth pivotability and liftability for the adapter module 26 a of theupper row 28, the telecommunications panel assembly 10 includes a pairof lift supports 50 that are used to support the upper adapter module 26a at a raised position. For sake of simplicity, only the left side ofthe chassis 14 including a left lift support 50 and the associatedfeatures on the left side of the chassis 14 will be discussed, with theunderstanding that the description is fully applicable to the right sideof the chassis 14. Even though the features on the left side of thechassis 14 are fully applicable to the right side of the chassis 14, itshould be noted that there may be certain differences between the leftand right sides of the chassis and of the adapter modules for aspectssuch as keying, as will be discussed below.

As shown, the upper adapter mounting module 26 a defines a pivot pin 52.The pivot pin 52 extends out from a side face 54 defined by the module26 a. The module 26 a is configured to pivot along an axis 42 defined bythe pivot pin 52 when the module 26 a is in the lowered/neutralposition. As will be discussed in further detail, in the depictedembodiment, the adapter module 26 a is configured to pivotcounterclockwise when looking at the module 26 a from the left side suchthat the adapter ports of the top row 28 are raised upwardly at anangle.

The pivot pin 52 defines a flange portion 56 and a stem portion 58. Theflange portion 56 is generally circular and is used to mount the uppermodule 26 a to the chassis 14 when the upper module 26 a is positionedat the lowered/neutral configuration.

The flange portion 56 may be slidably inserted into a flange pocket 57provided on the chassis 14 when mounting the upper module 26 a to thechassis 14. It should be noted that the flange portion 56 at the leftside of the module 26 a (and the corresponding flange pocket 57 of thechassis 14) may include a different configuration than the flangeportion 56 at the right side of the module 26 a (and the correspondingflange pocket 57 of the chassis 14) for keying purposes. For example, asshown in the top view of the depicted embodiment in FIG. 8, the flangeportion 56 at the left side of the module 26 a (and the correspondingflange pocket 57 at the left side of the chassis 14) may define a largercross-dimension than the flange portion 56 at the right side of themodule 26 a (and the corresponding flange pocket 57 at the right side ofthe chassis 14) such that the module 26 a is only insertable in a singlekeyed orientation.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-4A, 9A, 9B, 11, and 12, the stem portion 58 ofthe pivot pin 52 defines a cross-shaped transverse cross-section 60. Aswill be discussed in further detail below, the cross-shape 60 of thestem 58 provides the ability to lock the upper module 26 a at discreteangular positions as the module 26 a is pivoted with respect to thelower module 26 b when the upper module 26 a is at the lowered position.The cross-shaped stem 58 interacts with the lift support 50 to providethe discrete angular locking positions as will be discussed in furtherdetail below.

The pivot pin 52 also includes a stop tab 62 at the base 64 of the stemportion 58, adjacent the side face 54 defined by the module 26 a. Aswill be discussed in further detail below, the stop tab 62 rides withina groove 66 defined on the lift support 50, wherein ends 68 of thegroove 66 provide positive stops for the upper module 26 a when themodule 26 a is removed from the chassis 14 and moved to a liftedposition using the lift support 50. Please see FIGS. 9A, 9B, 11, and 12.

When mounting the upper adapter module 26 a to the chassis 14 at thelowered/neutral position, the flange portion 56 of the pivot pin 52 isinserted into the flange pocket 57, and the stem portion 58 of the pivotpin 52 is inserted into a slot 70 provided at the side 24 of the chassis14. Once the flange portion 56 is in the pocket 57 and the stem portion58 is within the slot 70, a flexible latch 72 of the chassis 14 coversthe circular flange portion 56 of the pivot pin 52 to retain the module26 a at the mounted position. As shown, the flexible latch 72 defines afinger notch 74 for elastically moving the latch 72 away from the flangeportion 56 of the pivot pin 52 in removing the module 26 a from thechassis 14.

Now referring to the lift support 50 and the functionality thereof, thelift support 50 defines a mounting end 76 and a pivot end 78. The pivotend 78 is configured to provide the pivotability for the upper module 26a with respect to the lower module 26 b. The mounting end 76 is used inmounting the upper module 26 a to the chassis 14 in the raised position.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 4A, 9A, 9B, 11, and 12, the pivot end 78 of thelift support 50 is generally C-shaped and defines an opening 80 forreceiving the stem portion 58 of the pivot pin 52 of the upper module 26a. Within the opening 80 of the C-shaped pivot end 78 of the liftsupport 50 are a pair of opposing flexible locking arms 82. The flexiblelocking arms 82 are configured to interact with the cross-shaped stemportion 58 of the pivot pin 52. The flexible locking arms 82 not onlyallow pivotability of the upper module 26 a along the pivot axis 42 butalso lock the upper module 26 a at discrete angular positions. As shown,the flexible locking arms 82 define protrusions 84 that abut the legs 86forming the cross-shaped stem 58 of the pivot pin 52. In this manner,the interaction of the pivot end 78 of the lift support 50(specifically, the flexible locking arms 82) with the pivot pin 52 ofthe module 26 a provides discrete locking at 45-degree intervals.

When the upper module 26 a needs to be moved to a raised position withrespect to the lower module 26 b for accessing the back side of thelower module 26 b, the mounting end 76 of the lift support 50 is used.When the module 26 a needs to be raised, the flexible latch 72 of thechassis 14 is moved away from the flange portion 56 of the pivot pin 52,and the stem portion 58 of the pivot pin 52 is taken out of the slot 70.The module 26 a, along with the lift support 50, is lifted off thechassis 14. At this point, the lift support 50 is rotated clockwise withrespect to the upper module 26 a, with the cross-shaped stem 58 of thepivot pin 52 rotating between the flexible locking arms 82 of the liftsupport 50.

As noted previously, when the lift support 50 is rotated relative to theupper module 26 a, the stop tab 62 of the pivot pin 52 of the module 26a interacts with the groove 66 defined on the inner side of the pivotend 78 of the lift support 50. The interaction between the ends 68 ofthe groove 66 and the stop tab 62 provides positive stops for the uppermodule 26 a as the lift support 50 is pivoted with respect to the uppermodule 26 a. In this manner, a user cannot rotate the lift support 50past the desired position. The stop tab 62 provides positive stops atpositions that are 90 degrees apart to allow a user to move the upperadapter mounting module 26 a from a lowered position to a raisedposition.

Once the lift support 50 has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise withrespect to the module 26 a, the mounting end 76 is used in mounting theupper module 26 a back to the chassis 14, but this time, in a raisedposition. Thus, instead of the module 26 a being directly mounted to thechassis 14 (as in the lowered position), the lift support 50 nowessentially acts as an intermediate structure between upper module 26 aand the chassis 14 when mounting the upper module 26 a at the raisedposition.

The mounting end 76 of the lift support 50 defines a mounting pin 88.The mounting pin 88 includes a flange portion 90 and a stem portion 92.When the upper adapter mounting module 26 a needs to be lifted to theraised position, the stem portion 92 is inserted into the slot 70 of thechassis 14 that was previously used to receive the cross-shaped stem 58of the module pivot pin 52 (when the module 26 a was at the loweredposition). The flange portion 90 is once again covered by the flexiblelatching arm 72 of the chassis 14 in retaining the stem portion 92 ofthe mounting pin 88 of the lift support 50 within the chassis slot 70.

The stem portion 92 of the mounting pin 88 of the lift support 50defines flats 94 that abut parallel edges 96 defining the square shapedslot 70 of the chassis 14. The interaction of the flat surfaces 94, 96keeps the lift support 50 at a vertical position and thus the uppermodule 26 a at a lifted position.

With the upper module 26 a at the lifted position, access to the backside of the lower module 26 b is facilitated.

If the upper module 26 a needs to be lowered again, the steps arereversed. The mounting pin 88 of the lift support 50 is lifted out ofthe chassis slot 70 after moving the flexible latch 72 out of the way.The lift support 50 is then rotated counterclockwise with respect to themodule 26 a (limited by the positive stops provided between the groove66 ends and the stop tab 62) and the stem 58 of the pivot pin 52inserted once again into the slot 70 to secure the upper module 26 a inthe lowered position.

As discussed previously, once in the lowered position, the upper module26 a can be pivoted with respect to the lower module 26 b along the axis42 defined by the pivot pin 52 of the upper module 26 a. Thecross-shaped stem portion 58 of the pivot pin 52 interacts with theflexible locking arms 82 provided at the pivot end 78 of the liftsupport 50 to provide the discrete 45-degree locking positions. SeeFIGS. 9A and 9B.

As noted previously, similar structures are provided for the right sideof the chassis 14 and the module 26 a for the pivotability and theliftability of the upper adapter mounting module 26 a.

It should be noted that in certain embodiments, for example, in thedepicted embodiment, the lower adapter mounting module 26 b is alsopivotable with respect to the chassis 14 and the upper module 26 a.According to one embodiment, the lower module 26 b is pivotable in aclockwise direction, away from the upper module 26 a, when viewed fromthe left side of the chassis 14.

As shown in the depicted example, the lower module 26 b may includesimilar features to that of the upper module 26 b such as a pivot pin 98and can be mounted to the chassis 14 so as to be pivotable along a pivotaxis defined by the pivot pin 98. Similar to that of the upper module 26a, the pivot pin 98 may include a flange portion 100 and a stem portion102. The pivot pin 98 may be used to mount the lower module 26 b to amounting slot 104 provided on the chassis 14. An example of the slot 104of the chassis 14 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Similar to that of theupper module 26 a, the pivot pin 98 of the lower module 26 b may alsoinclude a stop tab 106 at the base of the stem portion 102, adjacent theside face defined by the lower module 26 b. The stop tab 106, similar tothat of the upper module 26 a, is configured to ride within a groove 108defined as part of the mounting slot 104 of the chassis 14 and interactwith an end 110 of the groove 108 to provide a positive stop for thelower module 26 b. The positive stop is provided for the lower module 26b when the lower module 26 b is at a downwardly pivoted position asillustrated in FIG. 12.

It should be noted that the top and bottom surfaces 112, 114 of theupper and lower adapter mounting modules 26 a, 26 b may be designed witha certain amount of curvature, and the upper and lower modules 26 a, 26b may be positioned such that frictional interference between the twomodules 26 a, 26 b may provide simultaneous pivoting motion for the toprow and the bottom row, albeit in opposite rotational directions.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the upper module 26 a is pivotedupwardly, the frictional interference between the bottom surface 114 ofthe upper module 26 a and the top surface 112 of the lower module 26 bmay cause opposing rotational motion for the two rows. Thus, pivoting upthe upper module 26 a may simultaneously pivot down the lower module 26b to enlarge the size of the access area and to improve the access tothe connectors 38 of both.

Providing the upper module 26 a and the lower module 26 b with identicalor similar features may lead to manufacturing efficiencies and costsavings.

Although the depicted adapters 36 used in the panel assembly 10 of thepresent disclosure are of LC format, other types of fiber optic adapters36, such as SC or MPO may be used.

Although in the foregoing description, terms such as “top,” “bottom,”“front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upper,” and “lower” were used forease of description and illustration, no restriction is intended by suchuse of the terms. The telecommunications devices described herein can beused in any orientation, depending upon the desired application.

Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the presentdisclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts mayreadily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended thatsuch modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of theclaims which are appended hereto.

PARTS LIST

-   10 telecommunications panel assembly-   12 cable termination locations-   14 chassis-   16 open front-   18 main body-   20 top-   22 bottom-   24 side-   26 adapter mounting module-   26 a upper adapter mounting module-   26 b lower adapter mounting module-   28 upper row-   30 lower row-   32 frame-   34 module opening-   36 adapter-   38 connector-   40 cable-   42 pivot axis-   46 radius limiter-   48 cable management finger-   50 lift support-   52 pivot pin-   54 module side face-   56 flange portion of pivot pin-   57 flange pocket-   58 stem portion of pivot pin-   60 transverse cross-section-   62 stop tab-   64 base of stem portion-   66 groove-   68 ends of groove-   70 chassis slot-   72 flexible latch-   74 finger notch-   76 mounting end of lift support-   78 pivot end of lift support-   80 opening-   82 flexible locking arm-   84 protrusion-   86 leg-   88 mounting pin-   90 flange portion of mounting pin-   92 stem portion of mounting pin-   94 flats-   96 parallel edges-   98 pivot pin of lower adapter mounting module-   100 flange portion of pivot pin-   102 stem portion of pivot pin-   104 slot-   106 stop tab-   108 groove-   110 end of groove-   112 top surface-   114 bottom surface

The invention claimed is:
 1. A telecommunications panel assemblycomprising: a chassis including a front, the chassis further defining atop, a bottom, and two sides; a plurality of adapter mounting modulesmounted to the chassis at the front, each adapter mounting moduleincluding a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted in a line; whereinat least one of the adapter mounting modules is mounted to the chassisvia at least one support, wherein the at least one support is mountableto the chassis in two different orientations, wherein the at least oneadapter module is removable from the chassis and remountable at aposition spaced linearly and directly vertically apart from another ofthe adapter mounting modules via remounting of the at least one supportwith respect to the chassis, such that the fiber optic adapters of theat least one adapter mounting module face in the same direction beforeand after remounting of the at least one adapter mounting module to thechassis.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein all of the adapter mountingmodules are also pivotally mounted about horizontal rotation axesextending parallel to the top and bottom and transversely to the sidesof the chassis.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein at least two of theadapter mounting modules define abutting top and bottom surfaces suchthat pivoting one adapter mounting module automatically pivots the othervia frictional interaction.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein theplurality of adapter mounting modules defines an upper module and alower module, wherein at least one of the upper module and the lowermodule is pivotable away from the other of the upper module and thelower module and is also removable from the chassis and remountable at aposition spaced linearly apart from the other of the upper module andthe lower module.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the upper moduleis pivotable away from the lower module and is also removable from thechassis and remountable at a raised position from the lower module forfacilitating access to adapters at a rear side of the lower module.
 6. Amethod of increasing access to adapters of an adapter mounting modulemounted to a telecommunications chassis that defines a front, a top, abottom, and two sides, the method comprising: removing an adaptermounting module from the chassis; and remounting the adapter mountingmodule to the chassis via at least one support at a position spacedlinearly and directly vertically apart from another adapter mountingmodule that is initially adjacent to the remounted adapter mountingmodule, such that the adapters of the remounted adapter mounting moduleface in the same direction before and after remounting of the adaptermounting module to the chassis, wherein the at least one support ismountable to the chassis in two different orientations.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the remounted adapter mounting module isalso initially pivotable with respect to the other adapter mountingmodule about a horizontal rotation axis extending parallel to the topand bottom, and transversely to the sides of the chassis.
 8. A methodaccording to claim 6, wherein both adapter mounting modules are alsoinitially pivotable with respect to the chassis about horizontalrotation axes extending parallel to the top and bottom, and transverselyto the sides of the chassis.
 9. A method according to claim 8, whereinboth of the adapter mounting modules define abutting top and bottomsurfaces such that pivoting one adapter mounting module automaticallypivots the other via frictional interaction.
 10. A method according toclaim 6, wherein the remounted adapter mounting module is an uppermodule, and the upper mounting module is raised linearly with respect toa lower adapter mounting module.
 11. A method according to claim 10,wherein both the upper and the lower adapter mounting modules arepivoted away from each other about horizontal rotation axes extendingparallel to the top and bottom, and transversely to the sides of thechassis to facilitate access to the adapters of the adapter modules. 12.A method according to claim 11, wherein pivoting of one of the upper andlower adapter mounting modules away from the other automatically pivotsthe other adapter mounting module via friction between the upper andlower adapter mounting modules.